Zirconium-containing borosilicate glasses

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are zirconium-containing borosilicate glass compositions having a refractive index n e  between 1.55 and 1.72, and Abbe number ν e  between 50 and 34 and a negative anomalous partial dispersion value Δν e  between -3.0 and -7.7. Also disclosed is a process for the production of such glass compositions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to optical borosilicate glasses containing high zirconium concentrations and having intermediate to high refractive indices and relatively low Abbe numbers, as well as to a process for the production of such glass compositions.

The demand for optical glasses with special physical properties on the part of optical engineers has risen strongly in recent times. For the redesign of optical systems, particularly microscope and photographic lenses, optical grade glasses characterized by high refractive indices n_(e) but at the same time possessing the lowest possible Abbe numbers ν_(e) are increasingly required. By using such special glasses, optical engineers are able to eliminate optical abberations in optical systems and to improve the corrective quality of an objective to a much higher degree. Anomalous partial dispersion values play a decisive role in this respect. U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,829 recites additional details concerning the significance, the application and the nomenclature of optical glasses having anomalous partial dispersions.

In addition to these purely physical properties which are demanded of advanced optical glasses, those skilled in the glass art must also consider chemical-industrial requirements, i.e., the glasses must be capable of being produced on an industrial scale and they must not have any distinct crystallization tendencies. Economical production requires melting temperatures which are not excessive. Finally, technical processing factors play an important role in the selection and use of glasses of this type.

Even though glasses with compositions containing essentially silicon dioxide (SiO₂), boron trioxide (B₂ O₃), zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) and alkaline earth metal oxides are known, such glasses have proven to be unsuited for industrial application, because, as a result of their distinct crystallization tendencies, they may be melted only in small and therefore uneconomical units. Were one to produce comparable glasses containing alkali metal oxides in place of alkaline earth metal oxides, the negative deviations from the so-called "standard straight line," i.e., the (-)Δν_(e) values, would be significantly lower.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 2,150,694 describes a process for the manufacture of optical glasses having high refractive indices and low scatter, which contain, inter alia, one or more oxides of the elements titanium, yttrium, zirconium, niobium, lanthanum, tantalum and thorium. Further additives may consist of thorium and hafnium. However, such known glasses have different values in their n_(e) /ν_(e) pairs of parameters. Also, no data are given concerning the required anomaly of the partial dispersion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to eliminate the disadvantages of known glasses and to provide optical glasses which, in addition to n_(e) /ν_(e) values which are correlated with one another, exhibit negative anomalous partial dispersions for the correction of the secondary spectrum of optically imaging systems.

It is another object of the invention to provide a process for the production of such optical glasses.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, there has been provided in accordance with the present invention a zirconium-containing borosilicate glass composition having a refractive index n_(e) in the range of between about 1.55<n_(e) <1.72, an Abbe number ν_(e) in the range of between about 50>ν_(e) >34 and negative anomalous partial dispersion value Δν_(e) between about -3.0 and -7.7 comprising the following components:

    ______________________________________                                         (a)  from about 8.4                                                                             to 45.5% by weight SiO.sub.2, and                                  from about 0.9                                                                             to 33.0% by weight B.sub.2 O.sub.3,                                            wherein the sum of (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                               amounts to between about 31.6 and                                              46.4% by weight                                               (b)  from about 13.5                                                                            to 18.9% by weight ZrO.sub.2,                                                  wherein the sum of (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3 +                              ZrO.sub.2) amounts to between about 46.1                                       and 64.4% by weight;                                          (c)  0           to about 5.0% by weight Li.sub.2 O,                                0           to about 22.3% by weight Na.sub.2 O,                               0           to about 10.0% by weight K.sub.2 O,                                            and                                                                0           to about 24.0% by weight NaF,                                                  wherein the sum of the alkali                                                  metal oxides (Li.sub.2 O + Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O)                             amounts to between 0 and about                                                 21.8% by weight and the sum of                                                 (alkali metal oxides + NaF)                                                    amounts to between about 8.0 and                                               24.0% by weight;                                              (d)  0           to about 2.0% by weight BaO,                                       0           to about 2.3% by weight ZnO,                                       0           to about 0.5% by weight CdO,                                                   and                                                                0           to about 5.0% by weight PbO,                                                   wherein the sum of the bivalent                                                oxides (BaO + ZnO + CdO + PbO)                                                 amounts to between 0 and about                                                 5.5% by weight;                                               (e)  0           to about 9.9% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3,                          0           to about 24.8% by weight La.sub.2 O.sub.3,                         0           to about 23.1% by weight Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3,                                     and                                                                0           to about 4.0% by weight Y.sub.2 O.sub.3,                                       wherein the sum of the trivalent                                               oxides (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 + La.sub.2 O.sub.3 + Sb.sub.2                         O.sub.3 +                                                                      Y.sub.2 O.sub.3) amounts to between 0 and                                      about 26.9% by weight;                                        (f)  0           to about 5.0% by weight GeO.sub.2, and                             0           to about 1.0% by weight TiO.sub.2,                                             wherein the sum of the tetravalent                                             oxides (ZrO.sub.2 + GeO.sub.2 + TiO.sub.2) amounts                             to between about 13.5 and 20.6%                                                by weight;                                                    (g)  0           to about 5.0% by weight Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, and                      0           to about 33.1% by weight Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5,                                     wherein the sum of the pentavalent                                             oxides (Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 + Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) amounts to                        between 0 and about 36.1% by                                                   weight; and                                                   (h)  0           to about 2.1% by weight WO.sub.3.                             ______________________________________                                    

According to a further aspect of the invention, the glass compositions may further comprise up to about 3% by weight of a modifying additive selected from SnO₂, P₂ O₅ and mixtures thereof.

There has also been provided according to the present invention a process for the production of a glass composition as defined above, comprising the steps of: (a) heating the mixture of the aforesaid components in a platinum crucible to a temperature of between about 1345° and 1400° C. to form a melt; (b) refining the melt at a temperature of between about 1385° and 1450° C. for a period of time of from about 7 to 15 minutes; (c) homogenizing the melt with agitation at a temperature of between about 1360° and 1400° C. for a period of time of from about 80 to 120 minutes; (d) lowering the temperature of the melt down under agitation to a pouring temperature of between about 1135° C. and 1185° C. within a period of time of from about 3 to 8 minutes; and (e) pouring the melt into at least one preheated mold.

Further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent from the detailed description of preferred embodiments which follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The glasses of the present invention have the further advantages that they may be agitated down to relatively low pouring temperatures without crystallization. This alone makes it possible to obtain in larger units glasses free of striation and segregation.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention are presented in the tables which follow hereafter (in weight %). In addition to the individual components, intermediate sums of groups of components are also entered. Because of their similar effects in complex inorganic multi-component systems, these groups are suitably combined. The following physical parameters are given at the end of each vertical column:

n_(e) : refractive index

ν_(e) : Abbe number (reciprocal value of dispersion)

θ'_(g) : anomalous partial dispersion, where: ##EQU1## with the meaning of the subscripts as follows: g=blue mercury line (435.84 nm),

F'=blue cadmium line (479.99 nm),

C'=red cadmium line (643.85 nm);

-Δν_(e) : negative deviation from the so-called "standard straight line", such as shown graphically for example in the drawing of U.S. Pat. No. 3,451,829.

In Table 1, in addition to the principal glass forming components such as silicon dioxide (SiO₂) and boron trioxide (B₂ O₃) and the essential component of zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂), sodium compounds and tantalum and tungsten oxides are also listed. In the process, sodium fluoride (NaF) is partially replaced by sodium oxide. The examples show that SiO₂ and B₂ O₃ are most extensively interchangeable.

Table 2 presents examples which, in addition to a variation of the proportion of alkali metals, also demonstrate the effect of antimony trioxide (Sb₂ O₃) on physical properties.

Tables 3 to 7 show examples with additional oxides of higher valence, such as germanium dioxide (GeO₂), titanium dioxide (TiO₂), lanthanum oxide (La₂ O₃), yttrium oxide (Y₂ O₃) and niobium pentoxide (Nb₂ O₅). Beginning with Example 57, bivalent metallic oxides such as barium oxide (BaO), zinc oxide (ZnO) and cadmium oxide (CdO) are also added.

The process for the production of the glasses of the invention shall be demonstrated in more detail by the following example of a melt:

A weighed charge of 5 kg. consisting of

20% by weight SiO₂

23.8 by weight B₂ O₃

17.7 by weight ZrO₂

17.9 by weight Na₂ O

20.6 by weight Ta₂ O₅

is mixed well and placed by portions in a platinum crucible preheated to 1380° C. After the charge mixture has melted down, the melt is refined at 1430° C. for 10 minutes and is subsequently homogenized at 1385° C. for approximately 100 minutes with constant stirring. The temperature of the melt is then lowered under agitation conditions within a few minutes down to the pouring temperature of 1150° C. and is poured into preheated molds.

Following precision cooling, the optical parameters of the glass melted by the process described hereabove are:

n_(e) =1.641323

ν_(e) =42.23

θ'_(g) =0.4970

Δν_(e) =-7.02

Obviously, the melting conditions to be applied vary as a function of the charge composition chosen (temperature, time), but without exceeding or going below the temperature intervals or reaction times given above.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12                        __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               45.5                                                                               40.5                                                                               34.4                                                                               28.4                                                                               19.4                                                                               16.4                                                                               8.4 40.5                                                                               41.7                                                                               41.7                                                                               29.7                                                                               25.7                      B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                          0.9                                                                                0.9                                                                                7.0                                                                               13.0                                                                               22.0                                                                               25.0                                                                               33.0                                                                                0.9                                                                                0.9                                                                                0.9                                                                               12.9                                                                               16.9                      Σ (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                   46.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               41.4                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                      ZrO.sub.2                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.0                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                      Σ (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                    64.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               59.4                                                                               61.6                                                                               61.6                                                                               61.6                                                                               61.1                        + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                 Na.sub.2 O                                                                              --  --  --  --  --  --  --  12.0                                                                                9.4                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.4                      NaF      24.0                                                                               24.0                                                                               24.0                                                                               24.0                                                                               24.0                                                                               24.0                                                                               24.0                                                                               12.0                                                                               12.4                                                                                4.4                                                                                4.4                                                                                4.4                      Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                         9.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               14.6                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.0                      WO.sub.3  2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.0                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                      n.sub.e  1.5587                                                                             1.5674                                                                             1.5714                                                                             1.5811                                                                             1.5909                                                                             1.5929                                                                             1.5906                                                                             1.5831                                                                             1.5962                                                                             1.6074                                                                             1.6210                                                                             1.6221                    ν.sub.e                                                                              49.7                                                                               48.3                                                                               47.9                                                                               47.0                                                                               45.7                                                                               45.5                                                                               45.3                                                                               46.7                                                                               46.0                                                                               44.9                                                                               44.3                                                                               44.2                      θ' × 10.sup.-4                                                              4862                                                                               4938                                                                               4896                                                                               4949                                                                               4934                                                                               4945                                                                               4929                                                                               4916                                                                               4929                                                                               4952                                                                               4964                                                                               4962                      -Δν.sub.e                                                                       7.2                                                                               --   6.6                                                                                3.8                                                                                6.1                                                                                5.6                                                                               6.9  6.6                                                                                6.2                                                                                5.7                                                                               5.4  5.7                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  21  22  23  24                        __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               25.7                                                                               13.7                                                                               18.1                                                                               16.5                                                                               17.3                                                                               24.8                                                                               18.9                                                                               17.7                                                                               15.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                      B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         16.9                                                                               28.9                                                                               25.4                                                                               23.2                                                                               21.4                                                                               15.8                                                                               17.2                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                      Σ (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                   42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               43.5                                                                               39.7                                                                               38.7                                                                               40.6                                                                               36.1                                                                               38.6                                                                               36.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                      ZrO.sub.2                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.9                                                                               16.8                                                                               16.4                                                                               13.5                                                                               15.6                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                      Σ (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                    61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               62.4                                                                               56.5                                                                               55.1                                                                               54.1                                                                               51.7                                                                               57.1                                                                               55.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                        + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                 Li.sub.2 O                                                                              --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   5.0                                                                               --  --                        Na.sub.2 O                                                                              21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               22.3                                                                               20.4                                                                               19.8                                                                               15.4                                                                               16.7                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               16.8                                                                               16.8                                                                               11.8                      K.sub.2 O                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   5.0                                                                               10.0                      Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        --  --  --  --  --  --  --  21.1                                                                               23.1                                                                               17.1                                                                               17.1                                                                               17.1                      Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        15.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.3                                                                               23.1                                                                               25.1                                                                               30.5                                                                               31.6                                                                               --  --  --  --  --                        WO.sub.3  2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        n.sub.e  1.6274                                                                             1.6260                                                                             1.6312                                                                             1.6419                                                                             1.6603                                                                             1.6613                                                                             1.6807                                                                             1.6471                                                                             1.6577                                                                             1.6449                                                                             1.6415                                                                             1.6314                    ν.sub.e                                                                              43.6                                                                               43.4                                                                               43.3                                                                               41.7                                                                               40.0                                                                               39.9                                                                               38.0                                                                               39.0                                                                               37.2                                                                               41.4                                                                               40.0                                                                               41.3                      θ.sub.g ' × 10.sup.-4                                                       4961                                                                               4948                                                                               4960                                                                               4983                                                                               4994                                                                               5019                                                                               5033                                                                               5064                                                                               5098                                                                               5000                                                                               5014                                                                               5002                      -Δν.sub.e                                                                       6.3                                                                                7.4                                                                                6.7                                                                                6.7                                                                                7.6                                                                                5.9                                                                                6.7                                                                                3.5                                                                                3.0                                                                                5.9                                                                                6.0                                                                                5.7                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 3                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example: 25  26  27  28  29  30  31  32  33  34  35  36                        __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               12.4                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               17.7                                                                               17.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               21.7                                                                               17.7                                                                               17.7                      B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         29.0                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               20.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                      Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                    41.4                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               42.6                      ZrO .sub.2                                                                              18.0                                                                               16.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                      Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                     59.4                                                                               59.1                                                                               57.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               61.1                      + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                   Na.sub.2 O                                                                              --  16.8                                                                               16.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                                                                               21.8                      K.sub.2 O                                                                               --   5.0                                                                                5.0                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        NaF      24.0                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        La.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   4.0                                                                               8.0                       Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         2.0                                                                               17.1                                                                               17.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                4.1                                                                                6.1                                                                               8.1 10.1                                                                               12.1                                                                               14.1                                                                                2.1                                                                               2.1                       Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        12.6                                                                                2.0                                                                                4.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               11.0                                                                               9.0  7.0                                                                                5.0                                                                                3.0                                                                               11.0                                                                               7.0                       WO.sub.3  2.0                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        n.sub.e  1.5934                                                                             1.6359                                                                             1.6367                                                                             1.6286                                                                             1.6303                                                                             1.6347                                                                             1.6347                                                                             1.6363                                                                             1.6339                                                                             1.6334                                                                             1.6317                                                                             1.6336                    ν.sub.e                                                                              45.0                                                                               40.8                                                                               40.6                                                                               43.1                                                                               42.8                                                                               42.5                                                                               42.0                                                                               41.6                                                                               41.6                                                                               41.4                                                                               44.6                                                                               43.6                      θ'.sub.g  × 10.sup.-4                                                       4929                                                                               5023                                                                               5022                                                                               4958                                                                               4964                                                                               4981                                                                               4979                                                                               4992                                                                               5009                                                                               5008                                                                               4931                                                                               4948                      -Δν.sub.e                                                                       7.2                                                                                4.7                                                                                5.0                                                                                6.9                                                                                6.9                                                                                6.0                                                                                6.6                                                                                6.2                                                                                5.1                                                                                5.2                                                                                7.4                                                                                7.2                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example: 37  38  39  40  41  42  43  44  45  46  47  48                        __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               17.7                                                                               17.7                                                                               20.7                                                                               19.7                                                                               20.7                                                                               20.7                                                                               12.7                                                                               12.7                                                                               12.7                                                                               10.7                                                                               12.7                                                                               11.0                      B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               24.9                      Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                    42.6                                                                               42.6                                                                               45.6                                                                               44.6                                                                               45.6                                                                               45.6                                                                               37.6                                                                               37.6                                                                               37.6                                                                               35.6                                                                               37.6                                                                               35.9                      ZrO.sub.2                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               18.5                                                                               16.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                      Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                     61.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               64.1                                                                               61.1                                                                               60.1                                                                               60.1                                                                               52.1                                                                               52.1                                                                               52.1                                                                               50.1                                                                               52.1                                                                               50.4                        + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                 Na.sub.2 O                                                                              21.8                                                                               19.8                                                                               16.0                                                                               14.0                                                                               12.0                                                                                8.0                                                                               10.0                                                                               11.0                                                                               12.0                                                                               12.0                                                                               12.0                                                                               12.0                      La.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        12.0                                                                               10.0                                                                               13.8                                                                               17.8                                                                               20.8                                                                               24.8                                                                               12.8                                                                                6.8                                                                               16.8                                                                               12.8                                                                                6.8                                                                                6.8                      Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                                2.1                                                                               10.1                                                                               15.1                                                                                2.1                                                                               10.1                                                                               10.1                                                                               14.1                      Y.sub.2 O.sub. 3                                                                        --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   4.0                                                                               --  --  --                        GeO.sub.2                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   2.0                                                                                4.0                                                                                1.7                      Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                         3.0                                                                                7.0                                                                                4.0                                                                                5.0                                                                                5.0                                                                                5.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               13.0                                                                               13.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               15.0                      n.sub.e  1.6292                                                                             1.6386                                                                             1.6376                                                                             1.6475                                                                             1.6487                                                                             1.6616                                                                             1.6936                                                                             1.6875                                                                             1.6863                                                                             1.6884                                                                             1.6750                                                                             1.6875                    ν.sub.e                                                                              45.5                                                                               44.7                                                                               46.4                                                                               46.5                                                                               47.4                                                                               47.9                                                                               39.8                                                                               37.8                                                                               43.5                                                                               39.7                                                                               39.5                                                                               37.9                      θ.sub.g ' × 10.sup.-4                                                       4920                                                                               4928                                                                               4914                                                                               4930                                                                               4904                                                                               4904                                                                               5022                                                                               5051                                                                               4965                                                                               4997                                                                               5021                                                                               5047                      -Δν.sub.e                                                                       7.2                                                                                7.5                                                                                6.8                                                                                5.5                                                                                6.5                                                                                6.0                                                                                5.8                                                                                5.8                                                                                6.1                                                                                7.7                                                                                6.3                                                                                6.0                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 5                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example: 49  50  51  52  53  54  55  56  57  58  59  60                        __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               12.7                                                                               12.7                                                                               19.1                                                                               18.3                                                                               18.1                                                                               19.1                                                                               19.1                                                                               19.1                                                                               19.0                                                                               18.1                                                                               19.0                                                                               19.1                      B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         24.9                                                                               24.9                                                                               16.4                                                                               16.7                                                                               16.5                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.3                                                                               25.4                                                                               17.3                                                                               17.4                      Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                    37.6                                                                               37.6                                                                               35.5                                                                               35.0                                                                               34.6                                                                               36.5                                                                               36.5                                                                               36.5                                                                               36.3                                                                               43.5                                                                               36.3                                                                               36.5                      ZrO.sub.2                                                                               14.5                                                                               15.0                                                                               16.5                                                                               15.8                                                                               15.6                                                                               16.5                                                                               16.5                                                                               16.5                                                                               16.4                                                                               18.9                                                                               16.4                                                                               16.5                      Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                     52.1                                                                               52.6                                                                               52.0                                                                               50.8                                                                               50.2                                                                               53.0                                                                               53.0                                                                               53.0                                                                               52.7                                                                               62.4                                                                               52.7                                                                               53.0                      + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                   Na.sub.2 O                                                                              12.0                                                                               12.0                                                                               16.9                                                                               16.3                                                                               16.2                                                                               16.9                                                                               16.9                                                                               16.9                                                                               16.8                                                                               20.0                                                                               16.8                                                                               15.9                      BaO      --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   1.0                      ZnO      --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   0.5                                                                                2.3                                                                               --  --                        CdO      --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --   0.5                                                                               --                        Al.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         2.0                                                                                9.9                                                                                1.0                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        La.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         8.8                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        10.1                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        Y.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         --   0.2                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        GeO.sub.2                                                                               --  --  --   4.0                                                                                5.0                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --                        Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        --  --   1.0                                                                               --  --   1.0                                                                                3.0                                                                               --   3.0                                                                               --   3.0                                                                                1.0                      Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        15.0                                                                               15.0                                                                               29.1                                                                               28.9                                                                               28.6                                                                               29.1                                                                               27.1                                                                               29.1                                                                               27.0                                                                               15.3                                                                               27.0                                                                               29.1                      TiO.sub.2                                                                               --  --  --  --  --  --  --   1.0                                                                               --  --  --  --                        n.sub.e  1.6705                                                                             1.6830                                                                             1.6778                                                                             1.6769                                                                             1.6742                                                                             1.6808                                                                             1.6835                                                                             1.6814                                                                             1.6817                                                                             1.6334                                                                             1.6806                                                                             1.6803                    ν.sub.e                                                                              40.0                                                                               39.4                                                                               38.1                                                                               38.6                                                                               38.8                                                                               38.0                                                                               37.5                                                                               37.7                                                                               37.7                                                                               43.2                                                                               37.8                                                                               38.2                      θ'.sub.g  × 10.sup.-4                                                       5017                                                                               5021                                                                               5035                                                                               5026                                                                               5021                                                                               5035                                                                               5040                                                                               5047                                                                               5046                                                                               4949                                                                               5049                                                                               5040                      -Δν.sub.e                                                                       5.8                                                                                6.3                                                                                6.6                                                                                6.7                                                                                6.9                                                                                6.7                                                                                6.8                                                                                6.2                                                                                6.3                                                                                7.5                                                                                5.9                                                                                6.2                      __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example: 61  62  63  64  65  66  67                                            __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               19.1                                                                               19.0                                                                               18.6                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.7                                                                               17.5                                                                               17.5                                          B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         17.4                                                                               17.3                                                                               17.0                                                                               15.8                                                                               16.1                                                                               15.8                                                                               15.8                                          Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                    36.5                                                                               36.3                                                                               35.6                                                                               33.2                                                                               33.8                                                                               33.3                                                                               33.3                                          ZrO.sub.2                                                                               16.5                                                                               16.4                                                                               16.0                                                                               15.2                                                                               15.5                                                                               15.6                                                                               15.6                                          Σ(SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                     53.0                                                                               52.7                                                                               51.6                                                                               48.4                                                                               49.3                                                                               48.9                                                                               48.9                                          + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                   Li.sub.2 O                                                                              --  --  --  --  1.0 2.5 1.0                                           Na.sub.2 O                                                                              14.9                                                                               16.8                                                                               16.4                                                                               15.0                                                                               14.4                                                                               12.5                                                                               14.0                                          BaO       2.0                                                                                0.5                                                                                0.5                                                                                0.5                                                                                0.5                                                                               0.5 0.5                                           Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                         1.0                                                                                3.0                                                                                5.0                                                                                3.0                                                                                3.0                                                                               3.5 3.5                                           Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        29.1                                                                               27.0                                                                               26.5                                                                               33.1                                                                               31.8                                                                               32.1                                                                               32.1                                          n.sub.e  1.6811                                                                             1.6793                                                                             1.6914                                                                             1.7052                                                                             1.7050                                                                             1.7144                                                                             1.7054                                        ν.sub.e                                                                              38.3                                                                               37.5                                                                               36.6                                                                               35.8                                                                               35.7                                                                               36.5                                                                               36.3                                          θ'.sub.g  × 10.sup.-4                                                       5026                                                                               5059                                                                               5061                                                                               5089                                                                               5086                                                                               5061                                                                               5065                                          -ν.sub.e                                                                              7.0                                                                                5.5                                                                                6.3                                                                                5.2                                                                                5.4                                                                                6.4                                                                                6.3                                          __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     (Weight %)                                                                     Example: 68  69  70  71  72  73  74                                            __________________________________________________________________________     SiO.sub.2                                                                               17.4                                                                               17.0                                                                               16.8                                                                               16.8                                                                               12.7                                                                               16.8                                                                               16.6                                          B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                         15.7                                                                               15.3                                                                               15.2                                                                               15.2                                                                               24.9                                                                               15.2                                                                               15.0                                          Σ (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                                                   33.1                                                                               32.3                                                                               32.0                                                                               32.0                                                                               37.6                                                                               32.0                                                                               31.6                                          ZrO.sub.2                                                                               15.2                                                                               14.9                                                                               14.7                                                                               14.7                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.7                                                                               14.5                                          Σ (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                    48.3                                                                               47.2                                                                               46.7                                                                               46.7                                                                               52.1                                                                               46.7                                                                               46.1                                            + ZrO.sub.2)                                                                 Na.sub.2 O                                                                              15.0                                                                               14.7                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.5                                                                               12.0                                                                               14.5                                                                               14.4                                          BaO       0.5                                                                                0.5                                                                                0.5                                                                                0.5                                                                               --   0.5                                                                                0.5                                          ZnO      --  --  --  --   2.0                                                                               --  --                                            PbO       2.0                                                                                4.0                                                                                5.0                                                                                4.0                                                                               --   4.0                                                                                4.0                                          La.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        --  --  --   1.0                                                                                6.8                                                                               --  --                                            Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3                                                                        --  --  --  --  12.1                                                                               --  --                                            Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                         3.0                                                                                3.0                                                                                3.0                                                                                3.0                                                                               --   3.0                                                                                3.0                                          Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5                                                                        31.2                                                                               30.6                                                                               30.3                                                                               30.3                                                                               15.0                                                                               30.3                                                                               30.0                                          WO.sub.3 --  --  --  --  --   1.0                                                                                2.0                                          n.sub.e  1.7041                                                                             1.7173                                                                             1.7185                                                                             1.7183                                                                             1.6866                                                                             1.7131                                                                             1.7181                                        ν.sub.e                                                                              35.9                                                                               34.8                                                                               34.7                                                                               34.9                                                                               38.4                                                                               35.0                                                                               34.3                                          θ.sub.g ' × 10.sup.-4                                                       5075                                                                               5102                                                                               5122                                                                               5109                                                                               5042                                                                               5097                                                                               5105                                          -Δν.sub.e                                                                       6.0                                                                                5.2                                                                                4.6                                                                                4.6                                                                                5.8                                                                                5.2                                                                                5.5                                          __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A zirconium-containing borosilicate glass composition having a refractive index n_(e) in the range of between about 1.55<n_(e) <1.72, an Abbe number ν_(e) in the range of between about 50>ν_(e) >34 and negative anomalous partial dispersion value Δν_(e) between about -3.0 and -7.7, consisting essentially of the following components:

    ______________________________________                                         (a)  from about 8.4                                                                             to 45.5% by weight SiO.sub.2, and                                  from about 0.9                                                                             to 33.0% by weight B.sub.2 O.sub.3,                                            wherein the sum of (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3)                               amounts to between about 31.6 and                                              46.4% by weight                                               (b)  from about 13.5                                                                            to 18.9% by weight ZrO.sub.2,                                                  wherein the sum of (SiO.sub.2 + B.sub.2 O.sub.3 +                              ZrO.sub.2) amounts to between about 46.1                                       and 64.4% by weight;                                          (c)  0           to about 5.0% by weight Li.sub.2 O,                                0           to about 22.3% by weight Na.sub.2 O,                               0           to about 10.0% by weight K.sub.2 O,                                            and                                                                0           to about 24.0% by weight NaF,                                                  wherein the sum of the alkali                                                  metal oxides (Li.sub.2 O + Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O)                             amounts to between 0 and about                                                 21.8% by weight and the sum of                                                 (alkali metal oxides + NaF)                                                    amounts to between about 8.0 and                                               24.0% by weight;                                              (d)  0           to about 2.0% by weight BaO,                                       0           to about 2.3% by weight ZnO,                                       0           to about 0.5% by weight CdO,                                                   and                                                                0           to about 5.0% by weight PbO,                                                   wherein the sum of the bivalent                                                oxides (BaO + ZnO + CdO + PbO)                                                 amounts to between 0 and about                                                 5.5% by weight;                                               (e)  0           to about 9.9% by weight Al.sub.2 O.sub.3,                          0           to about 24.8% by weight La.sub.2 O.sub.3,                         0           to about 23.1% by weight Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3,                                     and                                                                0           to about 4.0% by weight Y.sub.2 O.sub.3,                                       wherein the sum of the trivalent                                               oxides (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 + La.sub.2 O.sub.3 + Sb.sub.2                         O.sub.3 +                                                                      Y.sub.2 O.sub.3) amounts to between 0 and                                      about 26.9% by weight;                                        (f)  0           to about 5.0% by weight GeO.sub.2, and                             0           to about 1.0% by weight TiO.sub.2,                                             wherein the sum of the tetravalent                                             oxides (ZrO.sub.2 + GeO.sub.2 + TiO.sub.2) amounts                             to between about 13.5 and 20.6%                                                by weight;                                                    (g)  0           to about 5.0% by weight Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, and                      0           to about 33.1% by weight Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5,                                     wherein the sum of the pentavalent                                             oxides (Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 + Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5) amounts to                        between 0 and about 36.1% by                                                   weight; and                                                   (h)  0           to about 2.1% by weight WO.sub.3.                             ______________________________________                                    


2. A glass composition according to claim 1, further comprising up to about 3% by weight of a modifying additive selected from SnO₂, P₂ O₅ and mixtures thereof. 